By Charlie Elliott
England face New Zealand on Saturday 2nd November, looking to get their first win against the All Blacks at the Allianz Stadium (Twickenham) in 12 years. Tom Curry and Tommy Freeman were in a positive mood ahead of their first fixture in the Autumn Nations Series, eager to right some wrongs from the double defeat they suffered against their opponents in July.
Before the first Test against New Zealand in July, All Blacks player Sevu Reece was quoted as saying: “I don’t really know much about them (the England wings)”
England and Northampton Saints winger Tommy Freeman responded to this lack of knowledge on him by saying:
“Yeah. Not fussed if they do or don’t to be honest. The more you play, the more you’ll get known. Hopefully if I can make his game a misery it’s a win for me and that will make him remember me potentially.”
Flanker Tom Curry has had a start to the season that has been hampered by injury, but was in positive spirits when reflecting on this time out and how is feeling going into the Autumn Internationals:
“I was really happy in terms of how I felt coming back into it. Obviously the first game probably wasn’t ideal, but again, you bounce back, that’s rugby. It gave me a chance to work on other bits and bobs and I feel like the first two games, it’s the best I’ve felt moving, running-wise.
Coming back, we had the summer tour and one game, but being back in it and learning more about my body, especially more my feet and stuff. The start of this year I’ve been really, really happy with.”
Having recently been one of 17 England players added to the enhanced Elite Player Squad (EPS), giving Steve Borthwick the final say on recovery and development, Curry spoke about the impact this has had on him so far:
“Every situation is different with each player. Steve emphasises this a lot, it’s not a selection criteria. For me, and I can only speak for myself, in terms of the relationship with England, RFU, obviously, Sale, and how I’m able to manage myself, physios, we’re talking more. I think for me and my circumstance, I think it’s a real positive. But again, I can’t comment on why.”
The last time England beat the All Blacks was in the 2019 Rugby World Cup semifinal, which Tom Curry played in, he would speak about what has changed since then and whether it has any bearing on Saturday’s game:
“That was ages ago. Everything’s changed now. I don’t think you can really talk about it. The team’s changed and rightly so. We’ve got to adapt and try and stay ahead of the curve so it’s exciting.”
Steve Borthwick and his England side have became increasingly known for their attacking style of rugby, and Tommy Freeman reflected on how his Head Coach’s mindset has changed since the 30-21 defeat against Scotland in February this year, which is seen by most as the turning point that has led to this attacking style:
“After the Scotland game Steve said that we played small. That’s a big no go. We want to play big with our chests out and take opportunities.
“I don’t think decisions change in terms of when you play we’ve got to click, you see us more moving the ball to edges. That’s just good ball players making good decisions.
“From a spectator’s point of view you think ‘ah we’re kicking again, we chasing it, we’re kicking it’. These decisions are all happening on the move.
“Yeah, maybe there’s bit more of a license, if there’s some space then take it regardless of where we are on the pitch. If outside backs are calling for the ball then that’s them playing big and playing with their chests out. We want to take them on in those spaces.
“We probably went into our shell in that Scotland game and played safe. The main thing is playing big.
“Now we have got all these structures and plays but ultimately we want to be unstructured and catch defences unstructured and create opportunities. Almost be structured to be unstructured in a way. When everyone is on and we are all on the same page, we are making decisions and taking opportunities when they come.”
Freeman would then go on to speak about Borthwick’s willingness to allow players to make mistakes, and how this has benefitted him as a player:
“You would never want to complacent; competition is so high in this squad that every game, you want to play it like it is a final – like it is your last game, that is the mentality I go at it with. With Wiggy and Steve give you the licence to go and be yourself and express yourself.
I think that is the main thing, not so much licence to make a mistake but you make a decision and you back yourself and if a mistake comes off it, these things happen and it is rugby. To be able to be told ‘go and express yourself, get your hands on the ball’ is really positive and helps everyone.”
